A Little Bit of Faith and Photography

Sharing my faith and my photography. The world is a beautiful place created by our Creator!

How Sweet It Is!

The wonderful works of God—the sun, the moon, and the stars, the beautiful order of the recurring seasons, the mighty snow-capped mountains, the lofty trees, and other varied wonders of nature, which showed a skill beyond human comprehension. White, AA 180.2

We had the opportunity to learn how to tap maple trees to harvest the sap for maple syrup. Its a relatuvely simple process involving drilling a hole in the bark, inserting the tap and then attaching a container to catch the sap. Sap, which is a watery sweet substance; sometimes starts dripping as soon as the drilling starts.

Gathering supplies.

Drilling the hole at an angle so that the sap will run out. Drilling about two inches deep.

What is tree sap?

There are two separate substances usually lumped together under the label of sap; these are xylem and phloem. Xylem transports water, minerals and hormones from the bottom to the top of the tree in a long string formation. Each year the xylem channels die off and new ones are produced. When you fell a tree and are faced with those wonderful rings you are seeing the old xylem channels, one ring for each year of life.

Phloem, however, is the sticky sugary stuff we tend to come into contact with whether by accident or on purpose. This is made up of the sugars created by photosynthesis, which is then fed back into the tree and leaves as much-needed food during the growth period.

Some education on inserting the tap.

Hammering in the tap.

Tap. You cant reuse the same spot next year.

Preparing to attach the milk bottle to the tap with a wire.

Attaching the milk bottle to the tap!

One very popular tree is the sugar maple (Acer saccarum). Its sap has a sugar content of up to 2% and they make a lot of it; it is tapped in late winter and early spring, with a healthy, good-sized tree producing as much as 15 gallons of heavenly sweetness. The sugar maple is the most prolific for sap production, but every maple produces edible sap.

Maple syrup was first made by the Indigenous peoples of Northeastern North America. The practice was adopted by European settlers, who gradually changed production methods. Technological improvements in the 1970s further refined syrup processing. Virtually all of the world’s maple syrup is produced in Canada and the United States. The Canada is the largest producer, responsible for 70 per cent of the world’s output.

An afternoon of work well done. The hand of God guides the planets, and keeps them in position in their orderly march through the heavens. He “bringeth out their host by number; he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.” [Isaiah 40:26.] It is through his power that vegetation flourishes, that the leaves appear, and the flowers bloom. He “maketh grass to grow upon the mountains,” and by him the valleys are made fruitful. All the beasts of the field seek their meat from God, [Psalm 147:8; 104:20, 21.] and every living creature, from the smallest insect up to man, is daily dependent upon his providential care. In the beautiful words of the psalmist, “These wait all upon thee…. That thou givest them they gather; thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.” [Psalm 104:27, 28.] His word controls the elements, he covers the heavens with clouds, and prepares rain for the earth. “He giveth snow like wool; he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.” “When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.” [Psalm 147:16; Jeremiah 10:13.]. CE 195.1

Sap is the nutrient for the tree just as the Word if God is our food which sustains us… “Fill the whole heart with the words of God. They are the living water, quenching your burning thirst. They are the living bread from heaven.” White, Christian Education, 57.1

cindyarchbellmattson

February 12, 2024

Blog, Creation, Faith, Inspiration, Nature, photography

#christian, #creation, #Creator, #EGW, #ellengwhite, #faithblog, #faithblogger, #godisgood, #inspirational, #nature, #naturephotographyblog, #naturesandyou, #photograpy

2 responses to “How Sweet It Is!”

Anonymous

February 16, 2024 at 3:39 pm

Cindy, very nice pictures–Virni

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1. cindyarchbellmattson
  
  February 16, 2024 at 5:34 pm
  
  Thank you Virni! I am glad you enjoyed them! Cindy
  
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How Sweet It Is!

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